Investigation of the neutron activation of endohedral rare earth metallofullerenes.

Endohedral lanthanide metallofullerenes and their water-soluble biocompatible derivatives have been synthesized. The effect that fast-neutron irradiation has on the stability and nuclear physical properties of endohedral metallofullerenes that are used as magnetocontrast materials (Sc, La, Nd, Sm, Eu, Eu, Sm, Tb, Yb, Tm (isomers I and III), and Lu) is studied. Our hypothesis, according to which carbon-shell relaxation is based on the fast nonradiative processes of an electron shake-off type, is confirmed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]